Newly located in the South Wedge, on South Avenue, rests Abundance CooperativeMarket. If quality fashion sets trends before they’re in, Abundance–The Co-Op for short–is en vogue. Local + Organic since 1968. The current location of Abundance was established in 2001. Since 1968, The Co-Op has supported what big stores wouldn’t. Farmers. Orchards. Diary. Local. Organic.As a cooperative, Abundance keeps business decisions local! To learn more about shareholders, visit the Abundance website.

CONVENIENT: Big enough for Choice | Small enough for quick Selection

LOCALLY OWNED: Owned by Shareholders | All decisions made Locally

HISTORICAL: Local + Organic is not just a trend | Local+ Organic is a Lifestyle

Conscious Convenience. Where else can you consume, do it quickly, and save the world? This past winter on Tuesdays + Thursdays, I drove to Greece to tutor a friend’s son. Typically, I returned to Rochester around 7pm and, undoubtedly, a midst heaps of snow. Where could I grab a quality cup of Equal Exchange Fair Trade French Roast to keep me warm + re-energize? Abundance Cooperative Market. Whether I grab one thing, or everything, I shop quickly + I shop mindfully when I shop Abundance. Need 10 more Top Reasons to Shop Abundance: Check out their list!

{EXTRA Organic Avocados + Bananas. If you can’t Buy Local, Think Global. Abundance organic avocados + bananas are regularly competitively priced. They are affordable for us, and sustainable for our world. Good for your wallet + good for our world.}

NOT YOUR TYPICAL GROCERY STORE

Like any grocery store, Abundance offers various discounts, has a prepared foods section with sit-down cafe, and Abundance sells a variety of gifts! Unlike other grocers, The Co-Op has its finger on the pulse of local events. An expansive Community Wall and targeted selection of specialty magazines tune me into sustainable activismand other social events.

“A study in 2012 found that $1000 spent in a co-op generates $1600 in a local community – that’s pretty impressive, we think.” – Chris Whitebell, Marketing Manager for Abundance Cooperative Market

EYE GEL – Avalon Organics Lavender Luminosity Revitalizing Eye Gel on sale for $12.99 is less expensive + just as effective as its competitors at other grocery + drug stores.

Does Fair Trade coffee + hormone-free, free-range meat cost more? Sure. But they taste better, they are better for me, and they are better for my world. Just like the local wines and craft beers we regularly purchase. They’re worth it!

AFFORDABLE

Affordable Options. Walk into Abundance today, without prior knowledge of specific deals or specials, and you will still find competitively priced goods + foods. Abundance is part of the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA). This allows for competitive pricing on fair market, quality goods. Abundance abundantly provides everyday low prices, no matter what.

1. Everyday Low Prices.In addition to naturally well-priced items, Abundance has a Basics Program. This guarantees competitive prices on staple goods. From bulk to grocery to refrigerated and frozen to supplement and health and beauty, The Co-Op commits to being “shop-able” for everyone interested in the best.

2. Co Op Deals.There are also Co-Op Deals available to all shoppers! Unlike a grocery store or market’s specialty card, these deals apply to everyone. You can visit the website or in-store in print twice per month. I recommend e-news!

3. Coupons.Just like any grocery store, you can find additional manufacturer’s coupons. Abundance often leaves them out on the grocery shelves!

4. Shareholder Discounts.A Co-Operative means that the company is owned by shareholders where 1 person has 1 vote. These shareholders decide the fate of the company and store. To own your own share of Abundance, it costs $100, 1 time. Now you get extra deals! Check-out the perks:

one-time purchase of share for $100, no annual fee or recurring costs

choose one day a month to get 10% off your purchase

get discounts on special orders

take advantage of owner-only deals

share in the profits: receive possible

dividend pay-outs relative to how much

you spend

vote for candidates to join the Board of Directors at annual meetings

vote on bylaw amendments and other items as proposed by the Board of Directors

run to be elected to the Board of Directors

volunteer for further discounts on your purchases

help build a stronger local economy and community

The Expensive Items? They also exist. Here’s the best part. You’re not paying for advertising and packaging. You’re paying because you’re changing. From environmental to economical to societal issues: your money is an agent of change. Still too much? No worries. Choose another item. All grocery stores have a vast range of prices that we choose or choose not to buy. At Abundance, an abundance of options exists.

{ EXTRAInterested in CSA? Community Supported Agriculture is an inexpensive + easy way to eat produce from and directly support our local farms! Peacework Farm CSA was at Abundance the day I visited. Greg Palmer is a farmer here. I felt humbled to meet 1 man responsible for providing us an abundance of healthful food. }

Who knew about Rochester Roots?? This non-profit, run by Jan MacDonald (who took over from founder Allison Clark) innovates community food systems. In partnership with Rochester Roots, Clara Barton (teacher at School No. 2) is developing an 8 week Sustainability Curriculum. Who. Knew.

Everything short of Tumblr enhanced my social calendar this week. Birthday Parties. Art Shows. Photo Shoots. Restaurants. Networking. Now, more than ever, Social Media clues me in to the Rochester I wouldn’t otherwise discover. Best tip? Visit your local hubs for community action like Abundance Coopertive Market downtown on Marshall Street! Or … Find a friend like Katie Regan who has her thumb on the pulse of Rochester. (This chick literally knows what’s up before it does, I swear.) Or … Follow. Follow follow follow. Follow businesses. Follow boutiques. Follow restaurants. Follow artists. Follow musicians. Follow your favorites. Follow those you’re curious about. Follow. I promise you: you will find fun activities you wouldn’t otherwise know. And then, you can have as rad a week + a weekend as I. (…You don’t even want to know how rad Katie’s was, btw. Woman needs a How To #Roc blog… .)

#ROCISRAD

WEEK

NETWORKING

FACEBOOK | LINKEDIN | TWITTER

INTERVIEW – ABUNDANCE COOPERATIVE MARKET

I also had the pleasure of sitting down with Marketing Director, Chris Whitebell, of Abundance Coopertive Market on Marshall Street. Spotlight Feature coming soon. Just know now that all items Abundance sells are either: Local, Organic, IPM, and/or Fair Trade. This means that every single thing you buy from Abundance is a socially consciouspurchase.

Cake Pops from Scratch Bakeshop for Peppermint’s 2nd Birthday!

WEEKEND

ART SHOW | PHOTO SHOOTS | BIRTHDAY PARTIES | LOCAL FOOD

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOK

I was straight baller status this weekend. Why? Rochester is Rad at Social Media.

FRIDAY

ART SHOW – SHAWNEE HILL AT LUX LOUNGE

Follow local artist Shawnee Hill–among others–on either Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, preferably all 3, and you have an instant pass to all of their features. This week it was a free art opening at Lux Lounge with free food. Lux vibes, always. With a huge backyard, outdoor games, a fire pit, church chairs near the pool table, serious drink specials, nightly events, local art, and free bon bon lollies all of the damn time, you never beat Lux Lounge. You’re a fan after midnight? Try Lux during Happy Hour. Just as chill. And you extend the night. Now combine Lux with an art event. That’s a Friday night. And I met Shawnee Hill! This woman’s art is ethereal; meeting her, other-worldly. Thank you, Social Media. And Lux Lounge.

That’s right. Photo shoots. Plural. Aside from senior portraits in high school, I’ve only done 1 photo shoot–(also with the geniusly talented Anjolee [nee Wolfe] Eggleston of DeMaroux Photography)–so it’s not like this a regular thing for me. It’s not. But, between blogging + Social Media, on Saturday I had 2, which is–technical term–the flossy flossy. One, with Treasure Trove Vintage. The other, Rochester Brainery. I contacted Morgan of TTV. (Note: Original post w TTV accidentally got deleted. Which sucks.) I cannot wait to Spotlight Treasure Trove Vintage for you! Brainery contacted me via Twitter after I tweeted about their Brainery Bazaar. See? Social Media enhancing lives. The shoot? Baller. Not only is Lindsay Lau of Lindsay Stephany Photography a doll + her shared-loft studio at The Hungerford gorgeous, but also we had a riot. I brought friends. We played with props. There was laughter. Danielle and Stephanie from The Brainery were hilarious + helpful + gracious + fun. And, who knows, we could be plastered all over the website. (No big deal.)

My time spent with Morgan, owner of Treasure Trove Vintage, her mother, Honey, and photographer, Anj of DeMaroux Photography, was also rich. I wore vintage dresses. That fit. Beautifully. Anj had me traipsing around the Park Ave and East End streets like it ain’t no thang. I cannot wait to share this with you!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES – SHOP PEPPERMINT IS 2!

Both photo shoots happened Saturday: Brainery in the morning and Treasure Trove in the evening. What better way to split some down time than by stopping by Shop Peppermint’s Birthday?! (It helps that Peppermint and Treasure Trove Vintage share a building on the corner of Park + Meigs.) With cute + classy h’orderves by Scratch Bakeshop and endless collections of hip + affordable jewelry, shoes, dresses, blouses, shorts, and even bathing suits … I didn’t want to pull myself away. I truly cannot believe Shop Peppermint turned 2. What on earth did I do–where did I shop–before Shop Peppermint happened to Rochester?

LOCAL FOOD – THE RED FERN + LA CASA

Lunch at The Red Fern. I got the PB+J smoothie. … Again. I want to order all of their smoothies all at one time and drink all of them one after the other without guilt. I couldmake that happen. It would be grand.

Dinner at La Casa. After at least 1 hour of prep (Anj could also be a make-up artist, PS) and 3 hours of shooting, we were famished. Both The Owl House and Cure had wait times. (Duh.) Anj brainstormed La Casa! About 1 year old, on Alexander near Boulder, I’d just driven by it earlier and reminded myself I’ve been meaning to try. IT ROCKED. I felt transported to vacation and right at home, all at the same time. Their patio space also looks rocking. La Casa will be a mainstay, especially this summer. Between the refreshing $5 house margarita, the authentic and hearty appetizers (we ordered 3…), the gracious service, that patio, South Wedge as the hood, and the vibrant energy with chill vibes: I must.

Thing is? I didn’t even hit on everything this weekend. I missed the Brainery Bazaar, attended by The Knotty Owl! (Best laid plans.) Also, on Sunday I missed A-List’s Blogger Brunch at Hogan’s Hideaway, another local favorite. Super bummed. But, glad to know I can vindicate. By following Rochester on Social Media.

We all know that Rochester, NY is Festival City USA. What we need to know is that we can celebrate Rochester before the end of May. Rochester is Rad. Now follow it so you can always find it.